Kamal Ghorui
Terming Jammu and Kashmir’s historic entry into the Ranji Trophy final a “very big moment”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the team’s remarkable run has not only brought them to the cusp of history but also strengthened the argument for some players to earn India call-ups.“It is a very big moment for us to reach the final because this is the first time J-K has reached the final of the Ranji Trophy. Many people said that they could not go beyond this stage. But the way they performed in the first innings, we are expecting to win the trophy from here,” Abdullah said on the sidelines of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final here.
“I think it is time our players are invited or asked to play for the country. One or two of them definitely deserve to wear the Indian colours,” he added.On the field, Jammu and Kashmir tightened their grip on the summit clash against the Karnataka cricket team, finishing Day 4 with an imposing overall lead of 477 runs at the Hubli Cricket Ground in Karnataka.Replying to J&K’s formidable first-innings total of 584, Karnataka resumed Day 4 at 220/5 and leaned heavily on skipper Mayank Agarwal. The right-hander added 30 runs to his overnight 130, crafting a fighting 160 off 266 deliveries, laced with 21 boundaries. However, disciplined bowling ensured wickets continued to fall at the other end.Sahil Lotra ended a vital 79-run stand by dismissing Kruthik Krishna for 36, while Sunil Kumar removed Vidhyadhar Patil. The turning point came when Auquib Nabi Dar trapped Agarwal in front, swinging the momentum decisively towards J-K. Nabi also sent back Shikhar Shetty, and Yudhvir Singh Charak wrapped up the innings by removing Prasidh Krishna as Karnataka were dismissed for 293 in 93.3 overs, conceding a hefty 291-run first-innings deficit.Jammu and Kashmir’s second innings began shakily with Yawer Hassan and first-innings centurion Shubham Pundir departing early. Captain Paras Dogra was bowled by Krishna after a brief stay. Abdul Samad then contributed 32 crucial runs and shared a steadying 73-run partnership with Qamran Iqbal to rebuild the innings.By stumps on Day 4, Iqbal remained unbeaten on 94 off 160 balls, with Sahil Lotra not out on 16, as J-K extended their lead to 477 runs and edged closer to a maiden Ranji Trophy triumph. Abdullah travelled to Karnataka on Friday to witness what he hopes will be Jammu and Kashmir lifting their first-ever Ranji Trophy title on Saturday.
